There are 2 main types of players
you will encounter while returning serve. Those who like to
serve and volley and those who like to serve the ball and stay
on the baseline. Your opponent's style of play can dictate how
you choose to return serve. There is also the fun (or torture)
of trying to return the serve of a left handed player. Left
handed players can be tough, many people are typically used
to playing right handed servers since they are more common.

Returning Serve Against Baseliners:
If a player stands back at the baseline after they hit the
serve then go with your strengths! If you play consistent
tennis go for consistency, if you like to hit with power go
for it.

You have the option to chip and charging
as well. This method is affective, especially if your opponent
is not comfortable with you being at the net. Usually playing
chip and charge is hard off of first serves though if the
player has a nice first serve.

If the server has a big first serve and
does not serve and volley then you have the chance to block
the return of serve back deep into the court if you cannot
hit the serve with a regular ground stroke. However, if you
do not block the ball deep enough, your opponent will have
the perfect ball to hit and take control of the point.

Returning a second serve from a baseline
player is fairly simple in theory. If you are a baseline player
you obviously want to hit the ball deep into the court and
try to take control of the point. If you are a serve and volley
player the chip and charge is a good approach if their second
serve is not very powerful. The main point is to do what you
have to do to take control of the point and set yourself up
for a winner. If they are not putting pressure on you with
a big second serve or playing serve and volley tennis then
some of the immediate pressure is off of you to hit a great
return.

Returning Against Serve and Volleyers:
Going up against serve and volley players is where the return
of serve becomes difficult for a lot of people. All of a sudden
the serve is coming, and so is the opponent, which immediately
brings with it a lot of pressure. A big server can cause you,
the returnee, a lot of problems; a poor return against a good
serve and volley players means the point is most likely over.
There are a few places where you can cause trouble for the
serve and volley players which may set you up for a passing
shot. Your return does not have to be a blistering passing
shot, although it is always nice. Sometimes hitting the ball
at the feet of the opponent can be just as affective. A lot
of tall players do not like to bend down that far, and hitting
a ball that low can produce a floating volley on which you
can go for a passing shot. If you have to block the serve
back, try to block it back either down the line, or at the
feet of your opponent. Also, do not be afraid to lob, especially
if the opponent likes to sprints to the net too fast right
after the serve, or if they like to stand too close to the
net. Keep them honest by lobbing and the best way to do this
is to lob the ball towards their backhand side to eliminate
the chances of the lob becoming an overhead for the server.

Returning a second serve from a serve and
volley player is where you have a chance to put the pressure
back on them after the serve. Most serve and volley players
do not serve and volley on the second serve unless they are
on grass or are playing doubles. I personally like to chip
and charge. I like this method because it gets me to the net
and keeps the server on the baseline. Typically, serve and
volley players prefer to be at the net, which means you may
have them out of their comfort zone if you can get to the
net first. However, you do not have to come to the net to
keep a serve and volley away from the net; simply hit the
return of serve deep into the court and keep your ground strokes
deep.

Returning Against Lefties:
Playing tennis against lefties can be tough. The toughest
part of playing a left-handed player (I feel) can be the return
of serve. The slice serve of a lefty kind of acts like a kick
serve to what we are used to hitting. The slice serve jams
the returnee when you think it should spin away from you.
My best advise is to adjust fast! Keep your eyes on the ball
and bring the racquet back early for good preparation. Regardless
if the server is hitting a slice serve, topspin, or kick serve,
take the ball early if you are able. The longer you wait to
hit the ball, the more it will spin away or into your body.
The more you allow the serve to move sideways the harder it
will be to hit because the spin is not what we are used to
hitting.

The way you return against certain players
will set up the point and it will also start to set the pace
for the match. You do not have to hit big returns to be effective.
Keeping returns deep against some players and hitting the
return at some player's feet are all simple ways to neutralize
attacks and stay in the point. Keep it simple, the return
of serve is not a time to get flashy and try to hit a lot
of winners.